| Erika Potts was all over the court as she dove to recover a ball knocked away from North Sanpete Tuesday. |
It was a struggle for the Lady Dinos not to look past the Tuesday game with North Sanpete to the Thursday match-up with Emery, but they had to beat the Hawks first in order to make the next game count for all the marbles. Carbon did just that as they beat North Sanpete 44-25 to secure themselves at least second place in Region 8 action.
Coach Cami Carlson admitted she was nervous as her team hit the court about which game the Dinos would be thinking about. Starter Julia Potts was sidelined with a foot injury and several of her players were suffering with assorted winter maladies. The Hawks also look to Carbon as the team to beat.
But quickly Carlson’s fear was laid to rest as the Dinos jumped out hard and took an 18-9 lead to start the first period. Many of the first period points came off the long shot. Principal Stanfield threw free t-shirts into the crowd for each three point shot made.
The second period of play saw both teams struggle with their offense. North Sanpete managed only two buckets. Carbon hit for eight points and headed to the locker room up 26-13.
Action resumed in the same manner in which it ended. Although Carbon put up 12 points, their defense kept the pressure on and North Sanpete could still only add four to their total.
The final period of play was mostly a defensive stand by the Dinos. Even the Carbon bench got into the act. The team closed the game out knowing they had secured at least second place in the region, but now knowing the only thing that could keep them from a shot at first is the Emery Spartans on Thursday night.
Samantha Smith led the team with three treys, 11 points and eight rebounds. Britni Greenwood had a season high nine points. But for Coach Carlson, she felt like with all the distractions of the coming game and the injuries and illnesses , that everyone got the job done and that’s what counts.
Carbon travels to Castle Dale on Thursday to take on the Spartans at 7 p.m. If they can beat them then both teams will have identical region records. If they both win their final games then a coin toss will determine who heads to the tournament as the top seed.
Both teams will draw a number five seed team to play at home for the first round. The difference will be felt later in the brackets as the number two seed will fall into the same bracket as the powerful Wasatch Wasps. Carbon has already felt the sting of the Wasps in pre-season action and would like not to draw them again until the final round.